Michael Phelps trims valuable time off 100 butterfly in Athens

Friday

Jul 11, 2014 at 10:27 PM

Chris Starrs

Besides serving as two of the greatest competitors in American swimming history, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are both hot on the comeback trail, Phelps from a self-imposed retirement and Lochte from a knee injury caused by an overzealous fan.

While Lochte tried a comeback in April with disappointing results, Phelps has competed four times since returning to his sport. On Friday evening at Georgia's Gabrielsen Natatorium, the two squared off for the first time since April in the 100-meter butterfly, the next-to-last event of the night during the second day of the 2014 Bulldog Grand Slam.

Phelps, 29, took the victory in the fourth heat, touching the tile in 51.67 seconds, the best time of his comeback and the third-fastest time in the world in 2014. Lochte, who competed earlier in the evening in the third heat of the 200 freestyle, finished second behind Phelps in a time of 53.08.

The Baltimore native, who has 22 Olympic medals, including 18 golds, proclaimed himself happy that he didn't see a certain number on the board at the conclusion of his swim.

"Thank God I didn't see 52 (seconds) - that was a good start," said Phelp, who posted a 53.11 in Friday's preliminaries. "I wanted to get under 52, because I was sick and tired of seeing 52.1. I guess it was 7/100s off the best time in the world, so I guess it was a decent time.

"I actually didn't feel that bad this morning. I felt really relaxed. I was kind of lackadaisical this morning and I guess this week, but I am very pleased with being able to go with 51, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just a small stepping stone to where we want to be."

Phelps will swim in the 100 backstroke this evening and will no doubt face Lochte - who signed up for an ambitious six events this weekend - again. He'll return to the deck on Sunday for his final race, the 100 freestyle, in which Lochte is also entered.

The only mildly frustrating aspect of Phelps' race on Friday night was a technical one - he wasn't at all pleased with his turns.

"I would have liked to have the No. 1 time in the world," he said. "I did probably slow down a little bit at the finish and my turns were horrendous. I was long on the turn, but to go 51.6, which I think is half a second off what I did at the Olympics - I guess I can't be too disappointed or frustrated after that swim."

Phelps, who plans to swim in the national championships in a few weeks in California and in the Pan Pacific Championships in August, admitted he wasn't entirely enthralled with retirement and added he's glad to be back to the grind.

"Retirement is pretty boring, to be honest," he said. "It's funny - I literally do nothing. If I'm at home, I try I'd try to golf or do something with friends, but everyone's working. So I'd go to the range and hit balls by myself. It got really boring."

"... It's good to have some structure back in my life, and that's how I've always been. It's something I need and I was glad to get that year and a half where I did whatever I wanted and went wherever I wanted. I'm happy to get that out of the way."

Although he finished second behind Phelps in the 100 butterfly, Lochte was victorious in the B final of the 200 freestyle in a time of 1 minute, 48.6 seconds. Lochte will swim in the 100 backstroke and the 400 freestyle this evening.

Also on Friday, in the women's 200 freestyle, Olympic gold medalist (and former Georgia standout) Allison Schmitt won in A time of 1:58.16 and Yannick Agnel (a three-time Olympic medalist) led the men in 1:47.27.

In the women's 100 breaststroke, Micah Lawrence finished first among the women in a time at 1:08.50 and UGA swimmer Nicholas Fink (also a member of the Athens Bulldog Swim Club) won in a time of 1:01.69.

In the women's 100 butterfly, Kathleen Baker was victorious in a time of 59.69. In the women's 400 individual medley, former Lady Bulldog Melanie Margalis won in 4:39.84 and Olympic gold medalist Tyler Clary led the men in a time of 4:21.66.

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